Fishing is always one of the highlights of our summer camping adventures. Just about every camper wants to grab a rod and head to the water. But during one particular camp, the excitement around fishing was even more intense—every boy and girl was eager not just to go fishing, but to catch something.

Especially Omar.

Omar was about ten or eleven years old, and he was determined—absolutely longing—to catch a fish.

But there was a problem: the weather.

Big Lake, our usual fishing spot, is known for its larger fish. But that day it was cold and windy, far from ideal fishing conditions. We offered the group some alternatives—sheltered streams down in a canyon where the wind wouldn’t be so brutal—but Omar stood firm. He wanted a big fish, and that meant Big Lake.

So Big Lake it was.

I told the group about a particular point on the lake where we’d had luck earlier in the season. But I warned them: it would be a tough three-quarter-mile hike in cold, gusty wind. It would take grit. Still, they were up for it—and off we went.

On our way to the point, we passed a few coves, but kept moving. The wind was howling straight across the lake into our faces. Conditions were rough, and once we started fishing, things didn’t get easier. After about 15 minutes with no bites, the kids started getting restless. Most wandered off, flipping rocks and exploring—another favorite camp pastime.

But Omar?

Omar hesitated. I could see he was torn—join the others, or keep trying? I walked over and told him, “If you really want to catch a fish, you’re going to have to stick with it. It’s not easy in this weather, but if you stay focused, you just might get one.”

And he stayed.

While the others tried a cove nearby, Omar stayed at that windswept point. He cast, waited, and believed. And sure enough—after a while, the fish began biting. He caught a beautiful fish! His excitement was contagious. The other kids ran over to admire it. Inspired, they gave fishing another try—but only briefly before returning to other activities.

Not Omar.

He had tasted success, and now he was hooked. He stayed put, kept fishing, and eventually caught a second fish—another fine one. The longer we stayed, the more determined he became. And yes, we caught even more fish that day.

But the real catch wasn’t what we pulled from the lake.

Omar learned a powerful lesson: if you want something, you have to work for it. Even when the conditions are tough. Even when others walk away. He left camp not just with fish, but with a deep, personal understanding of what perseverance looks like—and what it can lead to.

And it wasn’t just Omar who learned something that day.

All of us—campers and staff alike—saw firsthand how life’s most meaningful rewards often come after hard effort. We talked about how this applies far beyond fishing: in school, in relationships, in work, and in dreams.

This is the kind of moment we live for at Arizona Outdoor Adventures. It’s where fun meets growth, and where campers discover that they are capable of more than they thought—especially when they stick with it.